Government of Tonga

Ministry of Finance, Central Services Unit

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES

Assignment Title: Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist, Central Services Unit (1 Full Time Position).  

Project: Tonga Skills and Employment for Tongans Project.

Grant Number: IDA D3660-TO/TF A7984

Date of Issuance: 29th December 2021  

Date and time Expression of Interest (EOI) due: Thursday, 13th January 2022. Not later than 16:30 pm local time

Email Submission of EOI: Please email to: [email protected] and copy to: amuteteli@finance.gov.to and [email protected]

Attn: Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Finance

Salary Range: TOP 5,720 ~ TOP 8,580 per month (the actual remuneration will be negotiated with the consultant based on his/her qualifications and experiences in accordance with this range)

Reference Number: TO-MFNP-262852-CS-INDV

The Kingdom of Tonga has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Skills and Employment for Tongans (SET) Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The Ministry of Finance has established the Central Services Unit (CSU) to provide services related to: (i) project preparation and implementation, and (ii) capacity building. For project preparation and implementation, the role of the CSU is to provide both implementation and advisory services in the common fiduciary functions such as Procurement, Financial Management (FM), Safeguards, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), and Engineering and Contract Management.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include the recruitment of the CSU Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist, among others. The overall responsibility of the consultant is to proactively work with all relevant Implementing Agencies (IAs), so that the Environmental and Social Safeguards risk management arrangements successfully support the delivery of all Project Development Objectives.

This is a full-time position for 21 Months (1 year and 9 months) that may be extended based on needs and performance of the consultant to provide support to multiple projects. Expected start date of the position is January 2022.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AfwUM8hRrFumbZrGvG3ZcRO9zQusE0FY?usp=sharing

The Ministry of Finance now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (attach curriculum vitae with description of qualifications, experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc.).

The criteria for selecting the Consultant are:

Academic background and experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in environmental and / or social impact assessment, environmental science, social development, environmental engineering, planning or applicable relevant discipline.
• Ten years relevant experience in the assessment and management of environmental and / or social impacts from infrastructure projects, with international experience desirable. 
• Experience with or understanding of, the multi-lateral development partners’ environmental and social policies or equivalent development partner policy implementation, including familiarity with the Shared Approach for Management of Environmental and Social Risks.
• Ability to understand and translate Tonga’s contemporary development and environmental challenges, which would include developing a good working knowledge of Tongan social and environmental legislation.
• Understanding of Tongan government systems and line ministry functions and interactions, including sectoral challenges related to environmental and social risk are highly desirable
• Understanding of Tongan culture and traditional governance structures are highly desirable.
• Knowledge of occupational, health and safety (OH&S) risks and management appropriate to construction sites and infrastructure development.
• Applicants must have the legal right to work in Tonga at the time of application.
• Applicants that are civil servants of Tonga at the time of application are ineligible and the application will be rejected. 

General Competencies

• Strong communication skills and ability to present, discuss and resolve difficult issues, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to identify complex issues and to respond and manage accordingly; to facilitate effective delivery of tasks and projects.
• Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective business relationships with key stakeholders, clients and colleagues.
• Ability to function effectively in multi-disciplinary teams within a collaborative environment.
• Demonstrated ability in effective project management is essential including:
  • expertise in work planning;
  • ability to manage multiple competing priorities and respond efficiently and expeditiously;
  • an ability to work within a team and oversee team outputs;
  • effective at providing advice and outputs on time and to an agreed quality;

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, dated July 2016, revised November 2017 and August 2018 (“the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with Paragraph 7.36 to 7.37 of the Procurement Regulations.

The remuneration package for this position is attractive and it will be determined based on qualifications, experience and previous remunerations for similar assignments (range from TOP 5,720 ~ TOP 8,580 per month).

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 09:00 to 16:00 hours.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) no later than 16:30pm of Thursday, 13th January 2022.

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

Ministry of Finance, Nuku’alofa Tonga Islands, Tel: +676 740-0700

E-mail: [email protected] and copy to: amuteteli@finance.gov.to and [email protected]

INSTRUCTION FOR SUBMISSION: Please limit your CV and Cover letter in five (5) pages addressing each of the Selection Criteria with exact details.